Geocache Types

Traditional

This is the original type of geocache and the most straightforward. These geocaches can be found at the coordinates listed on the website. The size of the geocache can vary, but all geocaches will have a logbook, which needs to be signed for the find to count. Larger containers may also contain items for trade and trackables.

Multi

Multi geocaches involve visiting two or more locations, with the final location being a physical container with a logbook inside. There are many variations of multi geocaches. At the listed coordinates, know as the first stage, you will receive a clue to the whereabouts of the next stage. The clue could be further coordinates, or it might involve calculations or some other sort of puzzle to calculate your next location (or stage). The second stage will have a clue for the third, and so on until the actual cache is found. The whole cache could involve you travelling a few meters, across a park, or even across the country!!

Mystery/Puzzle

The “catch-all” of geocache types, this type of geocache may have you solving a puzzle at home to determine the correct coordinates before you head out to find the geocache, or it might present you with a geoaching based challenge to complete before you can log the geocache. Mystery/Puzzle Caches often become the staging ground for new and unique geocaches that do not fit in another category. Generally they are not found at the location listed on the website, because of this they are often the cache type used to create geoart.

EarthCache

EarthCaches are a type of virtual cache. They have no physical container or log book to sign. EarthCaches are different from other virtual caches as they teach the visitor something about the site of the EarthCache. An EarthCache is not just a scenic view or a locality, they present a lesson on the geology of a location. It could be how that place formed, about why that place is important scientifically or what that site can tell us about our planet’s geology.

The object of an EarthCache is to learn something about our planet. The reward is the lesson, not the trinkets in the container. Also, many EarthCaches are being developed in places where it is against the law to leave a container. EarthCaches have different reviewing criteria to a standard cache and more information can be found at http://www.earthcache.org/.

Letterbox

Letterboxing was around for many years before geoaching was invented and uses clues instead of coordinates to find a location. These days some letterbox owners make their container both a letterbox and a Letterbox type of geocache. These types of geocaches will contain a stamp that remains in the geocache box and is used by letterboxers and geocachers to record their visit. More information on Letterboxing can be found here or here.

Wherigo

Wherigo is a toolset for creating and playing GPS-enabled adventures in the real world. Wherigo’s can be combined with finding a geocache, and can be great fun. Among other uses, Wherigo allows geocachers to interact with physical and virtual elements such as objects, sounds or characters while still finding a physical geocache container. A Wherigo-enabled GPS device or an app on your smartphone is required to play a Wherigo. More info at Wherigo.com.

Event

An Event Cache is a get together of local geocachers. The Event Cache page specifies a time for the event and provides coordinates to its location. Anyone can run an event and they can be as simple or as complex as you like. They can involve games, a meal or nothing more complex that sitting around having a chat. After the event has ended, it is archived.

CITO

Cache In Trash Out is the environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community. The main aim of this program is to clean up natural areas that we enjoy while geocaching. These events are gatherings of geocachers that focus on litter clean-up, removal of invasive species, planting trees and vegetation or walking track building. Often CITO organisers are able to get local council support for the clean up.

Mega/Giga

A Mega and Giga Event Cache are just like Event Caches, but they are attended by 500+ and 1000+ people. Many of these larger events offer geocachers a day (or days) of planned activities. There are often several days of additional activities surrounding a Mega-Event. These large events attract geocachers from all over the world and can be held annually. Australia, with it’s smaller and sparse population, has not had as many Mega events as the UK and America. There have only been 3 held so far, but more are being held, usually annually at Easter.

Webcam

A geocache type that is no longer available for creation, but can still be found, webcam geocaches use existing web cameras that monitor various areas like parks or business complexes. The idea is to get yourself in front of the camera and save a screen capture from the website where the camera is displayed in order to log a find.

Virtual

A geocache type that is no longer available for creation, but can still be found a virtual geocache is about discovering a location rather than a container. The requirements for logging a Virtual Cache can vary. You may be required to email an answer a question about the location, take a picture or complete a task. In any case, you must visit the coordinates before you can post your log. Although many locations are interesting, a Virtual Cache should be out of the ordinary enough to warrant logging a visit.